Incandescent igniting device for gas-engines.



No. 671,359. I Patented Apr. 2, l90l.

a. u. THWAITE & u. mzusronm INUANDESCENT IGNITING-DEVICE FUR GAS ENGINEs.

1 (Appliutinn filed Nov 50, 1900. (Ila Model.)

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Patented-Apr. 2, mm. B. H. THWAITE &. H. MENSFORTH. INCANDESCENT IGNIT ING DEVICE FOR. GAS ENGINES.

(Application filed Nov. 30, 1900.) (lo Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

BENJAMIN H. THWAITE, OF LONDON, AND I-IOLBERRY MENSFORTH, OE BRADFORD, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO THE BLAST FURNACE POWER SYNDICATE, LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

INCANDESCENT IGNITING DEVICE FOR GAS-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,359, dated April 2, 1901.

Application filed November 30, 1900. Serial No. 38,226. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern;

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN HOW- ARTH THWAITE, residing at 29 Great George street, Westminster, in the city of London, and HOLBERRY MENSFORTH, residing at 82 Wheatly Mount, Bradford, in the county of York, England, citizens of England, have invented a certain new and useful Improved GasEngine Igniting Apparatus, (for which we have applied for a patent in Great Britain, dated May 4, 1900, No. 8,278,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for igniting gas-engine charges, this apparatus being especially adapted for use in engines supplied with gas of low combusti- -bilitysuch, for instance, as the gases'which come from blast-furnaces. We eifect the ignition in the known manner by admitting a portion of the compressed cylinder charge into a heated tube, and we employ for heating the tube apparatus constructed and operating as we shall describe, referring to the accompanying drawings. I

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly sectional, of apparatus according to our invention for heating a pair of ignition-tubes. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of one of the ignition-tubes.

a is one branch of a breeches-pipe, by which gas is supplied. b, the other branch, supplies air under pressure, such as the air for the furnace-blast. The jet of air from b by ejector action draws gas from a, and the mixture of air and gas passes by the pipe 0 and branches (1 e to burner-nozzles f and g, where it burns, its flame playing on the ignitingtubes h 71.

In order to supply gas from another source and air from the atmosphere when air from the blast and gas from the furnace are not available, we make at each side of the apparatus a connection j to a pipe supplying gas under pressure, of which by a regulating screw-valve we admit a jet into the branch d on the one side and e on the other side. Through the sides of the branches leading to the nozzles f and g we make holes covered by a sleeve 1 on the one side and m on the other, the sleeve having holes which when the sleeve is turned into one position coincide with the .holes through the pipe, so that when the sleeves are so turned air enters by the holes and mixes with the gas. When the gas and air are supplied by the pipes a, and I), the sleeves Z and m are turned so as to close the holes for air, and the valves 7c are closed to stop supply of gas.

Each of the ignition-tubes h and t' is placed within a casing 02, in which the flame plays around the tube, and within the tube h or 2', which is open at 0 to the cylinder, there is an inner tubep, of smaller diameter. This inner tube is closed at both ends, but is perforated with holes 3 most numerous toward the end farthest from the opening 0, and in the annular space surrounding the tube 19 there are several convolutions of a helically-twisted wire q. When the ignition-valve is opened, a portion of the compressed combustible charge passes from the cylinder by the opening 0 into the annular space between the tubes, forcing the products of previous combustion through the perforations 3 into the inner tube, while it is caused by the wire q to take a lengthened helical course within the tube h or i, exposed to its heat, so that it becomes ignited and communicates flame to the cylinder charge.

Having thus described the nature of this invention and the best means we know for carrying the same into practical effect, we claim- 1. In an igniter for gas-engines, the combination with an igniting-tube closed at one end and communicating at its other end with the engine-cylinder, of aninner tube arranged concentrically within the igniting-tube and closed at both ends, said inner tube being perforated at the end farthest removed from the cylinder, and a helical wire disposed about the inner tube between the walls of the latter and the igniter-tube, the convolutions of the wire being separated from one another to form a spiral passage, substantially as described.

2. In an igniter for gas-engines, the combination with an igniting-tube closed at one end and communicating at its other end with the engine-cylinder, of an inner tube arranged tube and igniter-tube, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing wit- 1 5 nesses.

B. H. THWAITE. I-I. MENSFORTH.

Witnesses: v

GERALD L. SMITH, EDWARD GARDNER. 

